Bridges, Wine, and a Little 4 Wheeling Adventure

Sunday we took off to check out campgrounds along the 128 Scenic byway and of course to check out the views. There are a number of campgrounds along this road which meanders along the Colorado River. Only two are big enough for big rigs but there were a few sites at each of them that were available. They are BLM with no hookups but much cheaper and better views We are thinking of moving tomorrow.

We stopped at a winery while on this road. There are only a few wineries in this area and Castle Creek Winery is one. It is run by the near by Red Cliffs Lodge. We shared a tasting and bought a few bottles.

On the way back to 191 we stopped to take pictures of some rafters going down the Colorado.

We then headed onto Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is another colorful landscape which is eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River and its tributaries. The rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. Our destination for today is the Island section. We got to the visitor section where there was already a great view point with awesome views.

We checked out some campgrounds, including one called Horsethief Campground, which is a fairly new campground built on a flat plateau with great views. There are 60 sites and many that could easily fit even 45 foot RVs. No hookups but only $12(6 for us with our national pass)a night. We think we have found our next campground for the rest of the time we are in this area. We then decided to take a four wheel drive road called Gemini Bridges, which is a popular road for both 4 wheelers, bikers, and hikers. The start is off the main hwy 191 and heads to 313 in the Canyonlands, but we are doing it in reverse. The first section from313 to The Gemini Bridges is 5.6 miles and can be driven by 2 wheel drivers as well. The Gemini Bridges are two alcove like arches side by side. 
                                                      

                                                   
                                       

This was one of the only places in this area we have been able to take Savannah on a trail and we saw several other people with dogs as well. It was nice for all of us to get in a nice hike.

We continued on the road which is more of a 4 wheel drive section which goes for about 7.8 miles. We were enjoying the drive until something went wrong with the drive shaft. It seem to be stuck in drive. Luckily another car was following us and they stayed behind us to make sure we got out. A little scary but we made it.

We got back to the campground but once Joe turned off the engine, we can no longer start in up as it is stuck in drive and we can't put it in park or neutral to start it up. Monday morning we'll have to have it towed into a repair shop. Luckily there is both just a short distance from the campground, but it looks like we will be staying here at least one more day.

                                                
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                           

Moab

We got Joe's prescription filled and picked up late Thursday afternoon and so left Colorado Friday morning. We headed to Grand Junction but a couple of places we planned to stay were full. Hadn't planned to leave Friday but that is the way it goes. We decided to keep going and head to Moab, Utah which was going to be our next stop. Weather was nice as we went through Grand Junction but the farther we went the more clouds we saw and soon lightning was spotted and then more lightning. By the time we entered Utah and were on 191 to Moab, the rains came and some wind. Oh lovely. :(  We passed a number of campgrounds all of which looked full. We finally picked one in the south side of town. They were full but said we could park on the front "grass" area for $10.00. Did I mention it is now dark. We said fine and got set up for the night. I took Savannah outside in the dark and she didn't seem to want to walk around which was strange. Well, it wasn't exactly nice grass we were walking on. When we came back in I went to pick her up and she was filled with stickers. Joe and I both sat and picked out dozens of stickers from her fur Poor baby.
Needless to say, we decided to look for a new spot in the morning which we did. We took the Jeep and the first campground we came to had some spots and so we moved over to Spanish Trail RV Park on Highway 191. We is a pretty park with some trees and real grass(no stickers) and full hookups. Also views of the beautiful red hills that are in this area.






City of Moab

We decided to take a drive to Arches National Park. This whole area is just great for outdoor activities, such as visiting several national parks, four wheeling, rafting on the Colorado River, hiking and biking. Arches is famous for its, wait for it, their arches. Just amazing formations. There are more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches as well as other interesting rock formations

Arches has the greatest density of arches in the world.

    We stopped at areas called Parade of Elephants, Garden of Eden and Fiery Furnace Viewpoint.

Balanced Rock



Parade of Elephants



Garden of Eden





                                                                                                                               

We took a four wheel drive road out of the Park to the 191. It is rated easy and there were just a few places that were a little dicey. Mostly just bumpy.

                                                        













Rocky Mountains

Monday we left South Dakota and headed to Loveland, Colorado. We wanted to check out Rocky Mountains National Park. We got to Riverview RV Park, which is about 20 or so miles from the Park. We got a nice site overlooking the river. There is a deck which is over the Big Thompson River and I spend some time sitting and reading and just enjoying the sound and sight of the river. Very peaceful.

Tuesday we headed to the National Park, first going through Estes Park.

We loved the awesome Canadian Rockies and the Rockies here is the states aren't too shabby either. The park holds 72 named peaks above 12,000 feet of elevation. Longs Peak is 14,259 feet. More beautiful views to take in We took a drive on the Old Fall River Road, an one way road with switch backs and lovely scenery

We drove onto the Fall River Pass and stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center. What a change of weather. Time to put on our jackets. Nearly one third of the park is above treeline , 11,400 feet of elevation, the limit above which conditions are too harsh for trees to grow.

                                       
                                                                                                               
          We drove down the two way road from the Alpine Visitor Center enjoying more great views.
We headed back a different route on Devils Gulch Road up through the small town of Glen Haven and back towards our campground. The next few days saw lots of rain. One night it rained, with thunder and lightning,  all through the night. We were going to leave Wednesday or Thursday but Walmart screwed up and didn't fill one of Joe's prescriptions and so we won't be leaving until Friday.